Shrike Syndicate

Silo, a Shrike and last in line of the syndicate's original ruling dynasty

The Shrike Syndicate is a collective of extralegal mercenaries and operatives who answer to no government. To the Avar Imperium or the Maze, the Shrikes are nothing but thieves, smugglers, and all manners of outlaw, but before the Gloomfall, the common people who looked past their criminal facade saw them as heroes and protectors. Founded by the Vex family, the Shrikes stole from the rich and gave to the poor, living by a code of honor and a desire to do right by the people of the Westreach. During the Mazewar, the Shrikes were a headache for both the Imperium and the Maze, playing both sides of the conflict in service of the people. Politics at the top of the organization turned messy, however, with a figure known only as the Raven assuming the mantle of power after the disappearance of previous leader Lucian Vex and his wife, turning most of the Shrikes to common banditry and thuggery. The Gloomfall exacerbated matters, and it led to a schism in the syndicate.

Most of the Shrikes are now a menace to the people of Skylight, serving the Raven and her mysterious goals. What few "good" Shrikes are left, those still loyal to the Vex family and the original ideals of the band of thieves, are trying to figure out what happened while still doing right by Skylight. As of present, much of the Raven's Shrikes are focused on taking control of the mines of the Westreach to corner the market on godsblood, a volatile arcanic fuel that Skylight still needs. This trails eventually leads into the jungles of the Crucible, where more of the Shrikes' secrets are soon to be revealed.

Notable Members

• Salan Vex - "The first Shrike," founder of the Shrike Syndicate. Longshot was his creation and is handed down the Vex line.
• Lucian Vex - The last Vex to lead the Shrikes, alongside his wife, before the Raven's coup. Lucian and his wife are currently missing.
• Silas "Silo" Vex - Son of Lucian Vex and his wife. The people's champion, highly skilled, and primed to inherit the family business, before he unfortunately died at the defense of Skylight during the Gloomfall. Now a Wayfinder trying to recover his memories and find out what happened to his family (he suspects foul play) and the Shrikes, all while battling the Gloom to save the world.
• Kestrel - Leader of the Vex loyalist "good" Shrikes, and Skylight's resident underworld fixer. She stands opposed to the Raven.
• Old Kite - A member of Kestrel's outift, former leader of what would be eventually known as the Murderer's Row gang before the other members betrayed him.
• The Raven - Current leader of the broader Shrike apparatus, cloaked in mystery.
• The Rook - Shrike quartermaster and inventor, brother of Warden Hass and former associate of Kestrel before he was pressganged by the Raven into service before his demise. God Bleeder and the Bloodbore are known to be two of his creations.

Other Members/Common Enemies

• Deadeye Shrike
• Grim Morningstar
• Shrike Enforcer
• Shrike Skirmisher
• Shrike Sentry
• Stormshrike
• The Albatross

Murderer's Row

• Vrek the Chemist
• Maas the High Roller
• Kulgar the Demolitionist
• Heit the Firebrand
• Suiroko the Mastermind
• The Spendthrift